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This Is What Successful Women Do on Their Lunch Break

Today’s “always on” workplace culture views the inability to take a lunch break as the mark of a hardworking employee. Contrary to what this cutthroat culture would have you believe, however, scarfing down a salad while simultaneously answering work-related emails is not a path to success. In fact, taking a full hour to regroup, enjoy a mental break, and eat a healthy lunch will actually make you more successful in the long run, according to Michael Kerr, an entrepreneur and international business speaker.

“Your lunch hour is your chance to get refocused, reenergized, and refueled (literally) for the rest of your day,” said Kerr, as quoted by Business Insider. “Successful people treat it like the half-time show at a football game — an opportunity to regroup and consider how they’re going to play out the rest of their day.”

Kerr, author of The Humor Advantage,suggests spending your lunch break networking, creating to-do lists, reflecting on your morning, working out, or reading, in addition to grabbing a healthy bite to eat. If you absolutely cannot find the time to head out of the office, he says you should at least step away from your desk—even if it’s just for a few minutes. “In the worst-case scenario, if you have to work through lunch, working in a different location will at least offer up a much-needed change of scenery and perspective.”

How do you usually spend your lunch break? Share your routine in the comments below.